Megena walked to the dining room early, hoping to enjoy a quiet breakfast. As she began to sip at her warm, sweetened tea, she heard the unmistakable sound of Gregor's foot on the stone. Megena stood, and curtsied as he entered the room. "Ser." she said, "I was going to finish my tea and then tend to your wound."

Gregor grunted in pain as he sat in his large chair, "No need. I'm going to a town to the West for three days, there's a good maester there." he said, "Duilya, food."

Megena returned to her seat, "Please,ser...I wish that you would not travel in your condition. You could do further damage to the wound." Megena said, her blue eyes meeting his.

Gregor glared at her, "Fine."

"Thank you." Megena smiled, as she watched him spread honey on a piece of blackened bread.

As Duilya made work of setting breakfast on the table, she could not help but be shocked by their exchange. 'Nothing moves the Mountain.' she thought, as she watched Gregor continue to stare at 'the girl'. She looked to Megena, and for a moment thought of Adara, the first wife. Adara, on her first night in the Keep lay broken in her bed. She never woke. Duilya knew as she watched Gregor study the young womans face that he would keep her alive.

A few minutes later, Sandor joined Megena and Gregor at the table. He sat as far from Gregor as he could and began to spoon porridge into his bowl.

"Little brother." Gregor said in greeting, his eyes never leaving the face of Megena. "You've met the girl, haven't you?"

Sandor answered, "I have."

"What do you think? Shall she be the Lady of the Keep?" Gregor asked.

Sandor shrugged. "Do what you will with her, brother."

"Megena, leave us. I must speak to my brother."

Megena rose and curtsied, "Yes, Ser. I shall go prepare what I need for your dressing."

"Good, I'll be up soon."

Megena flashed Gregor a smile and exited the room.

"Gods, look at her Sandor. Who knew that such a pretty thing was so close?"

"You're very lucky, brother." Sandor said, "she'll make a fine wife."

"Or whore. Imagine the price she could fetch in Kings Landing."

"Whatever you say, Ser." Sandor said, staring at the wall.

"Why so gloomy brother? There needs to be a wife here, to manage things. We cannot stay in these walls forever."

Sandor looked over to his brother, "So you will marry her then?"

"I will. There is something about her. She calms me, and is a capable healer." he said, in praise of the tiny woman.

"I am glad brother." Sandor said, draining his mug of ale and standing.

"Where are you going?" Gregor asked.

"Kennel. Hound is going to deliver."

Gregor laughed, "You and those fucking dogs." he said, "Go then."

Sandor pulled his hood over his head as he stepped out of the dining room, "Bastard." he cursed, as he thought of Gregor.

Duilya as Sandor left the house stepped quietly into the dining hall, "Ser Gregor, may I have a word?"

"Make it fast, woman. Wound is starting to hurt." he said as he stood and placed his hand to his side.

"It's Megena, Ser. She's a special one, I ask that you let her live a little before you make a wife of her."

Gregor looked down at the aging woman, and saw the fear that rested deep within her eyes. "Aye, she'll live. I have not touched her, and I have not said one unkind word to her." he said, "bring food up to her later, girl looks half-starved."

Duilya stood, and watched Gregor as he walked through the door, smiling as he went. 'That girl is going to live.'

Gregor knocked twice before he entered his bedchamber. "Oh!" Megena said, jumping in surprise. "Everything is prepared, Ser."

"Good." he said, sitting to remove his boots. He then hissed in pain, "Shit."

"Ser?!" Megena said, "What is it?"

"My back. Always hurts. It's especially painful today." he said, walking to his bed. "Curse my size to the seven hells. Can you still tend to the wound if I lay like this?" he asked, laying himself on his stomach.

"I can." she said, "I could tend to your back, if you'd like." Megena then walked towards him slowly, carrying all she needed to change his bandage.

"I don't care, just don't make it worse."

"I'll try not to, Ser." she said, leaning over the giant man.

"You can call me by my name, you know. You're to be my wife." he said, as she peeled the soiled bandage off of his wound. "How does it look?"

"Just fine, Ser. " she said, placing a fresh salve soaked bandage over the wound. "it is healing nicely."

"Good job, then." he said.

"Thank you. I shall need to place my hands on your lower back, Ser. Is that alright?" she asked as she placed some of the mint scented salve on her hands.

"What can you do with those tiny hands?" he laughed, "go ahead then."

Megena laughed, a sound not often heard within the confines of his bedchamber. With a nervous hand, Megena placed her hands on the lower back of Gregor. She slowly rubbed it in small circles, "Would you mind if I added some pressure, Ser?"
Gregor said nothing, he nodded, and closed his eyes. As she pressed her two tiny hands on his aching lower back, he let out a loud, contented sigh.

"That mint thing, it's working."

Megena smiled, as she continued to massage his back. Megena would not lie to herself, she was enjoying the way his muscles felt beneath her tiny fingers as they drifted over his back. 'I shall live.' she thought, as she put more of the salve into her hands. She spread a generous layer on his lower back, to quicken its drying she leaned closer to him, and blew upon it. As he muscles rippled, and he sighed in pleasure, Megena once again knew that she shall live. Megena was taken by surprise when Gregor suddenly turned over on his back, taking Megena with him. As she was resting on top of him he asked, "What the fuck was that?"

"It needed to dry, Ser." she answered, as he placed his arm over her back.

Gregor pulled her up his body, so that her eyes could meet his. "Liked it. The pain is gone." His hand began to tear at the laces of her gown, within seconds, his hand was resting on the pale flesh of her back.

Fear filled Megena as she asked, "What are you doing?"

Gregor placed his other hand in her golden hair, "You deserve a reward, girl."

Megena's blue eyes widened, "Ser, I need nothing, please. Our wedding night..."

Gregor laughed, "Relax girl, I'm not going to fuck you. I want you to come to me wet and begging." he said, as he removed his hand from her back. "remove the dress."

He allowed Megena to rise, and slowly, she removed her blue gown. As it tumbled to the floor, he looked to her and said, "Lay down."

Megena did as she was bid, and laid herself beside him on the large bed. Gregor moved closer to her, and as she turned on her side said, "Sleep, if you can." He then placed his large arm over her side, and went to his rest.

Megena smiled into the darkness, 'I'm going to live.'

After the labor and delivery of eight hound pups, Sandor ran excitedly to the room of Megena. He quietly opened the door, "Megena." he whispered, walking towards her bed. "Megena, the hound, she's had eight pups, come and see." He placed a hand on the bed, and felt nothing but the cool sheets beneath his hand. "Gregor." he whispered, as he sat on the edge of the bed. As he leaned back and closed his eyes, he prayed to whomever would listen to spare the one he loved from the wrath of his brother. "Please, do not let him kill her." he whispered.

A/N:

So, Gregor. What do you all think is his "deal"? Does he truly care for her, or is she just some pretty trinket? Also, poor Sandor, right? Let me know what you think! As always, thanks for reading! -M